| | ESPN.com
In some ways, it will be impossible for the Reds to match what they did during the 1999 season.
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REDS LOWDOWN |
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|  | | Junior has averaged 142 RBI the past four seasons. |
1999: 96-67
Runs: 865, 4th in NL
Allowed: 711, 4th in NL
Key facts
Bullpen went 33-23 and led majors with 3.36 ERA.
Scott Sullivan (113.1) and Danny Graves (111) ranked 1-2 in the majors in innings pitched for relievers.
Scott Williamson's control declined in the second half: he walked 21 batters in 59.2 innings before the All-Star break, 22 in 33.2 innings after.
Tim Kurkjian's scenarios
Best-case: Griffey hits 60, the Reds become the best road show in baseball and go to the World Series for the first time since 1990.
Worst-case: No matter how many runs they score, the starting pitching is uneven, the bullpen tires and the Reds miss the playoffs.
Prediction: 1st in NL Central
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Nothing is more special in any sport than a team that overachieves beyond comprehension. That's what Cincinnati did last season. The Reds were the small-market team competing against the big boys. They were fun to the final day of the season and even a day beyond. They were grown men acting like
little boys, jumping for joy after every victory.
That can't happen again.
The Reds stopped being a small-market underdog the second Ken Griffey Jr. traded himself to town. A lot of good things come with Griffey. He is the closest thing baseball has to a Michael Jordan, and you don't become that big of a star unless you are something special.
But other baggage also accompanies Griffey's arrival.
The pressure is on everybody now.
It's on Jack McKeon, who received a pittance of a raise for his best managing work ever in 1999.
It's on Ken Griffey Sr., who must endure rumors and innuendo all season that he is the manager-in-waiting.
It's on Griffey's teammates, who have the burden of going beyond what they did last season in a division loaded with other talented teams.
Most of all, it's on Junior.
He is about to find out what it was like for Mark McGwire to change leagues a few years ago. Ticket sales soared in almost every National League city when the Reds acquired Griffey.
The expectations are going to be great for Griffey, the one man who might be young enough and good enough to break Hank Aaron's home run record. It will be fascinating to see how he handles all the attention. He can only hope to do it as well as McGwire and Sammy Sosa.
By most accounts, Griffey has been fine this spring in one-on-one interview situations. But when the big spotlight shines on him, he prefers to
shy away. More times than not, the big spotlight will be shining on Griffey.
The pressure is on in Cincinnati. They'll be no more surprise parties. With Griffey, they have become the life of the National League party.
And winning has become the only thing.
-- Bob Brookover
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Lineup comments and grades from ESPN The Magazine
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Player
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Comment
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Grade
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P. Reese, 2B
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"He's like Deion on D," says Greg Vaughn. "He takes away half the field."
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A
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B. Larkin, SS
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Career BA: .299. Only six shortstops in Hall of Fame have career .300
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A
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K. Griffey Jr.
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Really good teams have a swagger. The Reds now have a swagger
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A
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D. Bichette, LF
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You know his numbers will drop. Question is, how far?
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B
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Sean Casey, 1B
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One of three first basemen in 1990s to lead the NL in multi-hit games (66)
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A
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D. Young, RF
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Hit .339 after break. If Reds need a pitcher, he can bring them one
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B
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E. Taubensee, C
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Why is it that so many catchers don't hit stride until late 20s, early 30s?
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B
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A. Boone, 3B
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Loves high heat from hard-throwing RHPs. Can't hit slop from crafty LHPs
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C
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Pitching comments and grades from ESPN The Magazine
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Pitcher
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Comment
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Grade
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P. Harnisch, SP
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Refused offseason surgery. Late hop was back on heater this spring
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B
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D. Neagle, SP
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Hard offseason work added 10 pounds of muscle. Has 90-plus mph fastball back
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B
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S. Parris, SP
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Nothing special, except good movement and keen knack for pitching
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C
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R. Villone, SP
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Ex-football player's mentality. Exploding fastball nearly unhittable
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C
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D. Graves, RP
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Allowed .162 BA with men in scoring position, third-lowest in majors
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B
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S. Williamson, RP
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Upper-90s heater that jumps. Hard slider that bites
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A
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